India denies $4.1 billion to build new energy vehicles

The Indian government has approved a plan worth US$4.1 billion to promote the development of environmentally friendly new energy vehicles. It is expected that sales of new energy vehicles in the Indian market will reach 6 million in the future.

The Indian government plans to invest Rs 230 billion (about 4.13 billion U.S. dollars) by 2020 to promote the research, development and production of electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. India expects to produce 6 million environmentally friendly new energy vehicles in the next eight years, of which 4 to 5 million will be two-wheeled vehicles. In contrast, China plans to reach a total of 500,000 electric and hybrid vehicles by 2015.

Indian Minister of Heavy Industry S. Sundareshan said that the Indian government will provide Rs 1,300 to 1400 billion for the plan, and the rest will be borne by the auto companies.

At present, the electric and hybrid vehicle industry in India is still in its infancy. Most car manufacturers still focus on the production of small-capacity diesel locomotives because of the high cost of new technologies and the extremely lack of supportive infrastructure in India.